AWARD BRINGS TEARS, JOY

ROBIN STANSBURY; Courant Staff WriterTHE HARTFORD COURANT

Wolcott School Principal Plato Karafelis stood along one wall of the school auditorium Thursday, listening to a "special surprise" unfold.

One of the West Hartford school's educators, the crowd of students and teachers were told, had been chosen the winner of a $25,000 Milken Family Foundation award, given each year to outstanding educators across the nation.

As Karafelis and others looked around the packed auditorium trying to surmise the winner of the "National Educator Award," a representative from the Milken foundation read the name:

Plato Karafelis.

To the cheers of hundreds of schoolchildren, their teachers, district administrators and some parents -- who all gave a long standing ovation -- a humbled Karafelis shakily took the microphone and the $25,000 check enclosed in an special envelope.

"Pretty amazing," were the first words from the principal, an educator for the past 26 years, including nine as the head of Wolcott School.

With laughter and some tears, Karafelis offered thanks to the foundation, along with School Superintendent David P. Sklarz, Wolcott's teachers, and his wife, Sharon, a fourth-grade teacher at Whiting Lane School, who attended the surprise ceremony that was disguised as the school's weekly "Town Meeting" assembly.

Later, when Karafelis retreated momentarily to his office to regain his composure, he said he was stunned by the award, which he said would likely go to pay for the college education of his twin 3-year- old daughters, Lexi and Chloe.

"I can't understand why I would get this award," Karafelis said. "I was standing there thinking it was going to one of the teachers in my building and then they read my name but it seemed the incorrect name. It's amazing."

The Milken Family Foundation award is given annually by the California-based organization to 160 educators nationwide, with the $25,000 prize meant to highlight the value of good teachers. On Thursday, the award was also presented to Hartford kindergarten teacher Barbara Gordon-Cobb. The two other winners are to be announced today.

"I easily could think of 50 people who are more deserving than myself," Karafelis said. "It doesn't make sense. But I'm certainly not going to turn it down."

The presentation of the award was a complete surprise to almost everyone at the afternoon assembly, including the school's teachers and parents who were simply notified that the weekly Friday assembly was being moved to Thursday.

"It's so great. He deserves it," said parent Cissy Graumann. "He does so much over and beyond. And I'm so glad it was a surprise."

Parent Becky Thomas said the award is confirmation that the school's Higher Order Thinking Skills program, or HOTS, is a success. The program emphasizes student responsibility and integrates writing, music and the arts throughout the school curriculum.

"Many times when a person has a vison that is not traditional, you have a lot of naysayers that are sure it's not going to work," said Thomas, who was in tears after the award presentation. "But the community has embraced this vision because we've watched it work year after year. And [Karafelis] has persevered where someone who wasn't as confident would have given up. He didn't. And I just feel really proud."